Handel"s Old Testament oratorios can be difficult to tell apart--tenor Israelite hero, bass enemy or éminence grise, soprano ingenue, and alto priest or youth. What distinguishes Joshua? Real characters: tenor Joshua, confident to the point of conceit; grizzled old general Caleb, wistfully facing retirement; alto Othniel, an excited young warrior/lover fighting battles to win Caleb"s giddy daughter, Achsah. Joshua"s highlights are the showpiece arias. James Bowman sails through Othniel"s impetuous "Let danger surround me"; Emma Kirkby (one of the best ornamenters in the business) charms and fascinates in Achsah"s "Oh, had I Jubal"s lyre" and "Hark! "tis the linnet"; George Ainsley is a Joshua both vigorous and graceful, the chorus and the brass are stunning in "Glory to God" as they bring the walls of Jericho tumbling down. --Matthew Westphal